Elden Ring Gatekeeper Gostoc complete quest guide: Should you trust him?

During your visit to Stormveil Castle, you’ll come across Gatekeeper Gostoc, a creepy NPC who will offer his help to sneak you in, and whether trusting him or not will have a consequence. Here’s everything you need to know about this confusing quest in Elden Ring.

When you arrive at the front gate of Stormveil Castle in Elden Ring, you’ll be beckoned over and greeted by Gatekeeper Gostoc, a tall, creepy, highly suspect figure in the game. Gostoc advises you to take a secret entrance into the castle rather than fighting your way through the main gate.

If you refuse to heed his advice, he’ll understand and respectfully open the gate for you. However, after being peppered with arrows, you’ll soon see the value in Gostoc’s suggestion.

FromSoftwares’s characters can be hard to predict and any NPC can turn out to be not what they appear. Even the creepiest of characters though can have good intentions.

Gostoc reminds us slightly of the Chapel Dweller from Bloodborne, another highly suspect individual who turned out to have a heart of gold. Other characters who initially appear saintly sometimes turn out to be ruthless villains. The question is, which one is Gostoc?

Spoilers follow below for this quest and other associated quests.

Contents

• Gatekeeper Gostoc’s quest in Elden Ring
• Should you trust Gostoc?
  • Path 1
  • Path 2 (recommended)
• Gatekeeper Gostoc’s shop

Gatekeeper Gostoc’s quest in Elden Ring

Once you fail to make it through the main gate, you’ll likely turn around and follow the path Gostoc suggested. This is admittedly easier, and you’ll soon be progressing through Stormveil Castle. However, should you die and reclaim your runes you’ll notice you pick up less than you dropped.

Also, after entering a room to pick up the Rusty Key, the door will be locked shut behind you while someone cackles quietly. This room is home to a powerful Banished Knight who can kill most with ease, but experienced players should be able to take him down.

Someone is stealing 30% of your runes every time you die and locking you in rooms with fearsome opponents so that you die more. This will continue until you make it into the main section of Stormveil Castle.

Once you defeat the Legacy Boss Godrick, use the Site of Grace to warp away from the area, then warp back. You’ll meet Gostoc stamping on the head of Godrick in anger. He’ll then explain why, and menacingly tell you that he’s free to do whatever he wants.

Should you trust Gostoc?

The answer is no, Gostoc is absolutely trying to kill you and has been stealing your runes – however, it’s not smart to kill him!

You should still take the path he suggests as it is easier, Gostock will also stalk you along the way. However, don’t treat him as an enemy as you’ll need him alive for a more important quest later, so while Gostoc is a murderous little thief, he’s of use to you, so stay your hand and keep the creep alive.

Should you kill Gostoc, he’ll drop your missing runes, and if you do this before the Rusty Key room with the Banished Knight, nobody will lock the door behind you.

There are two paths when it comes to dealing with Gatekeeper Gostoc:

Path 1

• Initially refuse Gostoc’s suggestion and ask him to open the gate. This will save you from doing it from the other side later, giving you more freedom.
• Kill Gostoc. He’ll defend himself, but he’s not difficult to beat.
• Then, take the safer path he suggested, free from his traps.
• Give his bell bearing to the Twin Maidens at the Roundtable Hold for access to Gostoc’s shop after his death.

This will ensure that Gostoc can’t steal your runes, can’t lock you in a room, and you’ll be able to use both routes. 

Path 2

• Initially refuse Gostoc’s suggestion and ask him to open the gate. This will save you from doing it from the other side later, giving you more freedom.
• Then let Gostoc live and take his suggested path, but be aware he will lock you in a room with a Banished Knight and will steal some of your runes if you die.
• Meet Gostoc again after Godrick has been defeated and exhaust his dialog.
• Return to Godrick’s throne room after progressing Kenneth Haight and Nephali Loux’s quests for him to reopen his shop – apparently a reformed character.
• Essentially, we’re keeping Gostoc alive purely to serve Nephali Loux later and to ensure she becomes the Lady of Stormveil Castle and his new master.
• Should Nephali become ruler of the region, she’ll come to your aid against Godfrey (who’s likely her real father) during the game’s penultimate boss fight, should you choose to summon her.

This is our recommended path.

However, if you have no interest in Nephali Loux’s quest you can simply return to Godrick the Grafted Site of Grace, and kill Gostoc here. Not only will you be able to claim his bell bearing for access to his shop again, but you’ll also get some payback on this slimy little backstabber.

Gatekeeper Gostoc’s shop

Here are all the items you can access through Gostoc once you’ve obtained the Rusty Key:

 

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For more Elden Ring content, check our guides below:

Elden Ring Stonedigger Troll | Elden Ring Margit the Fell Omen | Elden Ring Tree Sentinel | Elden Ring Grave Warden | Elden Ring Pumpkin Head | Elden Ring Soldier of Godrick | Elden Ring Godrick the Grafted | Elden Ring Red Wolf of Redagon | Elden Ring Rennala | Elden Ring Flying Dragon Agheel